Charcoal portrait of Bill Anderson in jacket with top button closed, shirt, carvat, and a brimmed hat with a lone star on the upturned brim and embellished with an ostrich plume. The drawing is signed by the artist with "93" immediately below the signature. At the bottom right corner, "Wm. Anderson" is written in different handwriting and black ink.

Biographical Note

Bill Anderson was a chief lieutenant under William C. Quantrill and earned the sobriquet "Bloody Bill." He later was a lieutenant under George Todd. He was part of the Lawrence massacre on August 21, 1863, and responsible for much of the Centralia, Missouri, massacre on September 27, 1864. He was killed October 26, 1864, near Orrick (Ray County), Missouri.

The portrait was separated from the original mat board. It is believed that most of the Stewart drawings were made from photographs. The MVO (Missouri Valley Oversize) is composed of various types of art work including paintings, sculpture, drawings and sketches, large-size photographs, posters, and other miscellaneous items.

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